Rotary extractor method and apparatus

ABSTRACT

A rotary extractor including a continuously rotatable turret having a plurality of transfer units mounted thereon for movement about the rotational axis of the turret with each of the transfer units having as axis extending radially of the turret. Each transfer unit has a pair of cam operated jaws for synchronously gripping a formed pomade such as lipstick which is to be extracted from its mold. A second cam is provided for raising the transfer unit with respect to the turret after the jaws have grasped the pomade thereby separating the pomade from its mold. A third cam means is provided for rotating the jaws, and therefore the pomade, 180* after the transfer unit has been raised. Once the jaws have been rotated, the transfer unit is lowered by the second cam means and the jaws opened thereby positioning the extracted pomade on a transport for further processing.

United States Patent 1 Simpatico [451 May 13, 1975 [75] Inventor:Anthony V. Simpatico, Palisades Park, NJ.

[73] Assignee: Avon Products, Inc., Suffern. NY.

[22] Filed: Dec. 19, 1973 21 Appl. No.: 425,968

Related U.S. Application Data [62] Division of Ser. No. 242,337, April10, 1972, Pat.

l l l 1 Primary E.raminerRobert .1. Spar Assistant E.\'aminerLawrence J.Oresky Attorney. Agent, or Firm-Pennie & Edmonds [57] ABSTRACT A rotaryextractor including a continuously rotatable turret having a pluralityof transfer units mounted thereon for movement about the rotational axisof the turret with each of the transfer units having as axis extendingradially of the turret. Each transfer unit has a pair of cam operatedjaws for synchronously gripping a formed pomade such as lipstick whichis to be extracted from its mold. A second cam is provided for raisingthe transfer unit with respect to the turret after the jaws have graspedthe pomade thereby separating the pomade from its mold. A third cammeans is provided for rotating the jaws, and therefore the pomade, 180after the transfer unit has been raised. Once the jaws have beenrotated, the transfer unit is lowered by the second cam means and thejaws opened thereby positioning the extracted pomade on a transport forfurther processing.

3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figures PATENIED MAY 1 3 i975 SHEET BF 5 ROTARYEXTRACTOR METHOD AND APPARATUS This is a division ofapplication Ser. No.242.337 filed Apr. 10. 1972, now issued as US. Pat. No. 3,797,683 onMar. 19, 1974.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an articlehandling method and apparatus for removing a mold-able substance from acast and for positioning the substance on a conveying belt for furtherprocessing. More specifically, but not limited thereto, this inventionrelates to a method and apparatus for extracting a formed pomade, suchas lipstick. from its mold and for positioning the pomade on a transportmeans for further processing.

Fatty moldable substances such as pomades are presently being used inlarge quantities for both medicinal and cosmetic purposes. Thesesubstances are typically formed or shaped to a desired configuration andthen packaged in a relatively small container for distribution to thepublic. If these substances, such as, for example, lipstick are to beproduced economically, a method and apparatus therefore must be providedfor rapidly extracting the formed pomade from its mold and thenpositioning the pomade and its-container on a conveying means forfurther processing steps such as flaming.

At the same time, the empty molds must be recycled in order to increasethe efficiency of the packaging system. In the past a number of methodshave been devised for extracting these pomades from their respectivemolds. These inventions however, have included a number of stepsrequiring human labor and have, therefore. suffered from the usualdeficiencies such as lack of speed and accuracy that are characteristicof human labor.

It therefore is an object of this invention to provide a method andapparatus for rapidly extracting a formable substance from its mold andfor positioning the substance for further processing.

SHORT STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, this invention relates toa rotary extractor for separating a formed pomade from a mold and theninverting and positioning the formed pomade on a transport means forfurther processing. The extractor includes a continuously rotatingturret having a plurality of transfer units mounted thereon for movementwith the turret about the axis thereof with each transfer unit having anaxis extending radially of the turret. Each transfer unit has a pair ofcam operated jaws for synchronously gripping the formed pomade at agiven point in the rotational cycle of the turret. A second cam isprovided for raising the transfer head with respect to the base of theturret thereby separating the formed pomade from its associated moldwhich mold is restrained from movement in the vertical direction. Afterthe pomade and its container have been separated from the mold. a thirdcam means rotates the jaws, and hence the pomade, l80 about the radiallydirected axis of the transfer unit. The inverted pomade is then loweredby the second cam means onto a transport means after BRIEF DESCRIPTIONOF THE DRAWINGS Other objects, advantages, and'features of thisinvention will be more fully apparent from the detailed description. theappended claims and the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the rotary extractor of this invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevation view of a transfer unit of the rotary extractorof this invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial section view of transfer unit taken along the lines33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a section view of the jaw actuating mechanism of the transferunit taken along the lines 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is an end section view of the jaw rotating mechanism of thetransfer unit taken along the lines 55 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the turret table showing theposition of the mold container with respect thereto;

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the star wheel configuration of the turret;

FIG. 8 is a section view of the transfer unit lift mechanism;

FIG. 9 is a simplified schematic representation of the cam operatedmovement of the transfer unit and jaws thereof with rotation of theturret;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the open jaws of the transfer unit;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the closed jaws of the transfer unitwhen clamped about the pomade and container therefor; and

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the jaws of the transfer unit after thetransfer unit is raised with respect to the turret table.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring now to FIG. 1there is shown a plan view of the rotary extractor apparatus of thisinvention. A turret 11 is shown supported on a base 13 with the turretbeing rotatable with respect to the base 13 about a stationary shaft 14having an axis that is perpendicular to the plan of the turret. Turret11 is continuously rotated by a motor and drive gear arrangement (notshown). Fixidly mounted on turret I1 is a star wheel 15 having aplurality of arcuate edges 12 for receiving and positioning mold supportunits 17 and conveyer units 19. A mold support is shown in FIG. 2 andsimply supports a mold l8 and pomade container 20 while the pomade isbeing poured into the mold. A conveying unit is similar to a moldsupport and simply supports the pomade and container therefor forfurther processing. A guide plate 21 forming two channels 23 and 24directs the mold supports 17 onto the turret II from a conveyor belt 26and directs conveyer units 19 away from turret 11 and onto a conveyerbelt 25. A pair of transport plates 27 and 29 are shown for transportingthe mold supports 17 from conveyer belt 26 to the turret l1 and fortransporting conveying units 19 from the turret to conveyer belt 25,respectively. Positioned at the opposite end of the turret wheel is asecond guide plate 31 which has a pair of channels formed therein fordirecting the mold supports 17 away from the turret and for directingonto the turret the conveying units 19. The mold supports aretransferred from the turret to a conveying belt 33 by means of atransfer disc 35 and the conveying units 19 are transported from aconveyer belt 37 to the turret 11 by transfer disc 39. Each of the fourtransfer discs 27, 29, 35 and 39 may advantageously be driven via thesame motor drive that rotates the turret.

A plurality of transfer units 41 are mounted on the turret 11 and arevertically moveable with respect thereto. 1n the preferred embodimentthere are 20 such transfer units but it should be understood that anysuitable number of such units could be mounted on the turret dependingon the size of the extractor unit and the speed with which the formedpomade. such as, tubes of lipstick are to be extracted from theirrespective molds. Each of the transfer units has a pair of cooperatingjaws 43 having an article gripping surface on corresponding portionsthereof for clamping about the pomade or article to be handled. The jawsand consequently the articles being handled are rotatable about the axisof the transfer unit 41 which, as can be seen from the figure, extendsradially with respect to the turret and parallel to the plane thereof.

The jaws of the transfer units are closed after the mold supports 17 arepositioned against the arcuate edge 12 of the star wheel and are openedafter conveying units 19 are appropriately positioned in the arcuateedge 12 of the star wheel. A cam 45 is fixidly attached to base 13 andprovides a means for opening the jaws 43 of the transfer units 41. Ashaft 47 is rotatably positioned in each transfer unit so that one endthereof cooperates with the jaws 43 for opening and closing the jaws aswill be discussed more fully hereinbelow. A roller block 55 is securedto the other end of the shaft 47. A pair of cam followers in the form ofrollers 56 are rotatably secured to the roller block and ride on thesurface 53 of cam 45. The cam 45 is positioned so that surface 53 trailsoutwardly away from the axis of the turret at the angle that the moldsupport 17 becomes positioned in the arcuate edge 12 of the star wheel.Thus, at this angle (denoted by numeral 170 in FIG. 1) cam followers 56ride outward radially on cam surface 53 and hence shaft 47 slidesoutwardly in the transfr unit 41 so that the jaws 43 can close about thepomade container being supported in the mold support 17. At the oppositeend of the cam, the cam surface 53 extends inwardly at approximately theangle where the pomade and its container are positioned on the conveyerunits 19. Thus at this angle (denoted by the numeral 190) the camfollowers 56 ride inwardly on surface 53 and hence shaft 47 slidesinwardly through the transfer unit so that the jaws 43 can open therebyreleasing the pomade and its associated container.

Refer now to FIG. 2 which is a side elevation view of a transfer unit41. The turret 11 is shown secured to axle shaft 14 of the extractor andis supported by a cylindrical support 51 to which is secured a discshaped turret support 58. Fixedly attached to turret 11 is star wheel 15which may be secured to the turret by any suitable means such as by aplurality of screws 57. A second star wheel 59 in the form of a ringhaving arcuate edges on the external periphery thereof and having thesame dimensions as star wheel 15 is positioned above star wheel 15 witheach arcuate edge thereof aligned with a corresponding arcuate edge ofstar wheel 15. Star wheel 59 is spaced from star wheel 15 by means ofspacer support 61 which, in addition, rigidly secures star wheel 59 inplace. A mold retaining plate 61 is fixedly attached to star wheel 59and extends over the lip 60 of the mold 18 to prevent vertical movementof the mold 18 with respect to the turret 11. The retaining plate may bein the form ofa ring extending circumferentially about the turret 11 ormay preferably be in the form ofa plurality of plates, each positionedon star wheel 59 at the locations of the arcuate edges in the starwheel. When the pomade and its container 20 are raised up and away frommold 18, the pomade may tend to stick to the mold thereby raising themold up and away from the mold container 17. Retainer plate 61 preventsany such movement thereby insuring that the pomade is extracted from themold.

A transfer unit housing 67 is shown being supported with respect toturret 11 by means of lift rods 69. The lift rods may be fixidly securedto the transfer head 67 by any suitable means and are secured at theirother ends to a carriage 71. Carriage 71 has a cam follower in the formof a roller 73 rotatably attached thereto. The cam follower ispositioned in a groove 75 in a eylindrical cam 77 which is rigidlypositioned on the base plate 13. Cam 77 and hence groove 75 completelyencircles shaft 14 and groove 75 has a variable verticle location asshown by the dotted lines. As the turret 11 rotates with respect to thebase 13 and the cam 77, the roller 73 rides in the groove 75 therebycausing transfer unit 41 to move vertically with respect to turret 11,as shown by the phantom lines in the figure. This vertical movementcauses the pomade and its associated container to be lifted away fromthe mold. As the turret continues to rotate the groove eventually movesdownwardly causing the transfer unit to return to its original verticalposition. When this occurs the extracted container of pomade ispositioned in a conveyer unit 19. Returning to the lift rods 69, a pairof bearings 62 are fitted in a pair of holes 64 in the turret. Thesebearings provide a minimum friction surface through which the lift rodsslide as carriage 71 and cam follower 73 rise and fall in accordancewith the path defined by slot 75.

Transfer housing 67 has a horizontal channel through the longitudinalaxis thereof for slideably and rotatably supporting a jaw shaft 47. Jawshaft 47 is terminated at one end in a yoke 81 which is secured to theshaft by any suitable means such as, for example, a screw 82 which isshown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Yoke 81 has a pivot pin 82 inserted therethroughwhich also passes through aligned holes in the complementary jaws 43.Each jaw is rotatably secured to a jaw mount 85 which is immovable withrespect to the longitudinal axis of the transfer head 67. The shaft 47is biased to the left by means of a compression spring 87 which abuts atone end against yoke 81 and at the other end against a bearing 91 whichbearing facilitates the linear movement of shaft 47 with respect to thejaw mount 85. A retaining ring 93 is provided which is fixedly attachedto the shaft 47 to prevent movement of the shaft to the left beyond agiven point.

A roller block 55 is secured to the opposite end of shaft 47. Rotatablyattached to the roller block 55 is a pair of cam followers 56 whichfollow the surface 53 of cam 45. As the cam surface 53 forces rollers 56to the right, shaft 47 is pulled to the right against the bias of spring87 thereby causing jaws 43 to open and conversely as cam surface 53permits rollers 56 to move to the left, shaft 47 moves to the left underthe bias of spring 87 thereby closing jaws 43. The cooperating action ofthe jaws will be more fully explained in connection with FIG. 3.

A rack 99 having a bottom stop 101 is slideahly mounted in the yokeportion 68 of the transfer housing 67 and cooperates with a one-wayclutch 131 such as a drawn roller cup clutch to rotate shaft 47 via apinion 103. The clutch conveys the linear vertical movement of rack 99to a rotational movement of shaft 47 only when rack 99 is being raisedwith respect to turret 11. A hole 90 is provided in turret 11 throughwhich rack 99 can move in the vertical direction. The vertical movementof rack 99 is effected by means of a cam 105 having a slot 109 thereinin which rides a cam follower 107 which is rotatably attached to therack 99. The cam 105 extends circumferentially about the axle 14 in thesame manner as lift cam 77 and the groove or slot 109 therein changesits vertical position about the circumference of the cam in order toeffect vertical movement of rack 99. As the vertical elevation of thepath of the slot 109 changes, the cam follower l07'riding in slot 109moves rack 99 upward and downward with respect to turret 11. Thismovement is converted to a rotary movement of shaft 47 via clutch 131when rack 99 is raised. When the rack is lowered, the one-way clutch 131does not convey torque to the shaft 47 and hence there is no reverserotational movement of the shaft. When shaft 47 rotates. jaw mount 85which rotates therewith causes jaw 43 to rotate thereby rotating thearticle being handled. This movement. because of the configuration ofthe cam slot 109, is limited to 180 of rotation and hence the pomade andits container are inverted.

Refer now to FIG. 3 which is a cross sectional view of the transfer headtaken along the lines 33 of FIG. 2. Shaft 47 is shown positioned withinthe transfer head housing 67 with bearings 91 and 12] providing arelatively frictionless interface between the cylindrical portion 86 ofthe jaw mount 85 and the shaft 47 so that the shaft 47 can movelongitudinaly with respect to jaw mount 85. Another set of bearings 123and 125 are disposed between the jaw mount 85 and the housing 67 topermit rotational movement of the jaw mount within housing 67 about thelongitudinal axis of the transfer unit. These bearings each have a rimportion 124 extending into engagement with the housing 67 to preventlongitudinal movement of the jaw mount. A clutch flange 127 is securedto a locating hub 129 which is fix idly secured to jaw mount 85 by meansof a set screw 86. The hub is rotatable along with mount 85 with respectto housing 67. A oneway clutch 131 is mounted over clutch flange 127 andis secured in position by means of a retaining ring 133 which ispositioned in a groove that extends about the outer periphery of theclutch flange. The one-way clutch may be of any suitable type known inthe art, however, in the preferred embodiment the clutch is a drawnroller cup which overruns. backstops, and indexes. A drive gear orpinion 103 is positioned over the one-way clutch 131. The clutch conveysrotation motion to shaft 47 and jaw mount 85 via clutch flange 127 whenpinion 103 is rotated in a first direction and. as aforementioned, doesnot convey any rotational energy to the shaft when the pinion 103rotates in the opposite direction. The rack 99 is positioned as shownwith its teeth meshing with the teeth of the pinion 103 as the rackmoves up and down within the gear rack mount 137.

At the opposite end of shaft 47 there is shown the yoke 81 secured tothe shaft by means of a screw bolt 82. The cooperating jaws 43 arerotatably secured to jaw mount at one end thereof and are joined by apivot pin 83 approximately midway to the other end. Each jaw has anelongated hole 153 therethrough for permitting the pivot pin 83 to slidetherein as shaft 47 moves linearly with respect to the jaw mount. Asshown, the shaft 47 is normally biased to the left by spring 87. Thepivot pin 83 acting against the sides of the elongated holes 153 in thejaws forces the jaws to a closed, gripping position about the pomadecontainer (not shown). When, however, shaft 47 is forced to the right bythe action of cam 45 acting on rollers 56, the pivot pin acts againstthe sides of the elongated holes 153 to open the jaws to the positionshown in phantom.

Refer now to FIG. 4 which shows a cross sectional view of the jaw mountand jaw assembly taken along the lines 44 of FIG. 3. law mount 85 isshown having shaft 47 mounted therethrough with the shaft being movablewith respect to the mount. Bearings 91 minimize the friction experiencedby the shaft as it slides in the jaw mount. A yoke 81 is shown beingrigidly secured to the end of shaft 47 by a screw inserted through ahole in the yoke and into an internally threaded portion 151 of theshaft. The yoke defines movement of the jaws by means of a pivot pin 83mounted through concentric holes in the yoke and the elongated slots 153of the jaws. The other ends of the jaw are secured to the jaw mount 85by means of a pair of screws inserted through holes in the jaw mount andthreaded into the jaws. A bearing arrangement 155 is provided tofacilitate relative rotational movement of the jaws 43 with respect tothe jaw mount. Each jaw has a complementary article clamping or grippingportion 157 as shown. Normally, as aforementioned, the yoke 81 andconsequently the shaft 47 are biased to the left with respect to the jawmount 85 by means of a compression spring 87 in which condition the jawsare closed. When shaft 47 is pulled to the right against the bias ofspring 87, pivot pin 83 slides inwardly with respect to jaw mount 85thereby forcing the jaws open due to the action of the pivot pin againstthe sides of the jaw slots 153.

Refer now to FIG. 5 which shows an end view of the rack and pinionarrangement for rotating shaft 47 and jaw mount 85 with respect to thetransfer head. Shaft 47 is shown having a clutch flange 127 securedthereto. A one-way clutch arrangement 131 interfaces the flange 127 anda pinion gear 103 which is positioned over the one-way clutch 131. Agear rack 99 is positioned tangentially with respect to the pinion withthe teeth of the rack meshing with the teeth of the pinion. When thegear rack moves upwardly, the linear motion thereof is translated intorotational motion by the pinion which motion is conveyed to the shaft 47by means of the one-way clutch 131. When the rack moves downwardly, thepinion rotates in a countercloekwise direction but motion is notconveyed to the shaft 47 because the one-way clutch 131 only conveysmotion to the shaft when pinion rotates in a clockwise directionv Refernow to FIG. 8 which shows a more detailed illustration of the camoperation for lifting the transfer unit 41 with respect to the turret11. Cam 77 is shown having a groove 75 which extends circumferentiallyabout the extractor axis 14 and which has a variable vertical location.The carriage unit 71 supports lift rods 69 which in turn support thetransfer unit. Cam follower 73 is rotatably attached to carriage 71 andis positioned in the cam groove 75. As carriage 71 moves with the turretabout the base of the extractor, the cam follower moves in the camgroove 75 thereby raising and lowering the carriage and lift rods withrespect to the base plate 13. The groove 75 is designed so that thecarriage is not raised until the jaws have grasped the pomade containerand is not lowered until the pomade container is positioned over aconveyer element 19.

Referring now to FIG. 9 there is shown a schematic linear layout of themovement of the transfer head 67 and jaws 43 as the turret completesmovement through a 360 angle. Moving from right to left as indicated bythe arrow, the jaws are initially closed about the pomade container. Atposition 2, the lift cam 75 is inclined upwardly thereby forcing thetransfer head 67 in a vertical direction via lift rods 69. The pomadeand container therefor are thereby raised causing the pomade to beextracted from the mold which is positioned in the mold container. Atstation 3 the transfer unit 41 is raised even further in a verticaldirection thereby clearing the pomade and its container from the mold.Note that the cam groove 109 is also inclined at the same angle as thelift cam 75 so that no rotation of the jaws can be effected during thisinitial extraction process. At station 4, cam 109 is inclined upwardlycausing rack 99 to rotate pinion gear 103 thereby rotating the jaws 43and the pomade 180. At station 5 with the pomade and its containerhaving been inverted, cam 75 slopes downwardly thereby permitting thetransfer head to move downward with respect to the turret. At station 6the pomade and its container are placed on a conveying unit 19 as thetransfer head 67 is further lowered toward the turret. Finally, atstation 7 the jaws are opened under the control of cam 45, shown in FIG.1, thereby permitting the pomade and its container to be conveyed ontransport means 25 for further processing.

FIGS. 6 and 7 show how the mold support 17 is positioned on the turret11. A star wheel 15 is mounted on the turret l1 and has, as shown, anarcuate edge 12 for receiving the circular outside periphery of the moldcontainer. In order to prevent tipping of the mold container, a secondannular star wheel 59 is mounted above the star wheel 15 by means of aplurality of star wheel supports 61. This star wheel also has an arcuateedge 12 for receiving the upper external portion of the mold containeras shown. A retaining plate 61 is mounted on the star wheel 59 at eacharcuate edge of the star wheel 59 to restrain vertical movement of themold. As shown in FIG. 7, the arcuate edge of the star wheel has aradius that is slightly greater than that of the mold support therebypermitting some movement of the container 17 when contacted by the starwheel so that when the jaws clamp about the pomade container. thecontainer is not tilted with respect to the mold as would happen if themold support was not free to move in the pocket formed by the starwheel. In the preferred embodiment the working radius of the edge 12 is0.77 inches while that of the mold support is only 0.75 inches. However,it should be understood that any suitable dimensions can be utilized butthat it is important that the working radius of the star wheels arcuateedges be greater than the radius of the mold container.

FIGS. 10-12 show how the jaws cooperate to grasp and raise the pomadecontainer. In FIG. 10, the mold container 17 is positioned with respectto the turret by the star wheels 15 and 59 with the jaws 43 in the openposition as shown. In FIG. 11 yoke 81 has moved outwardly from jaw mount85 thereby causing the jaws 43 to close with the complementary articlegrasping portions thereof clamping about the pomade container 20. Asshown in FIG. 12, the jaws have been raised as previously illustrated atstation 2 of FIG. 9, and the pomade container with the formed pomade isextracted from the mold 20 and mold support 17. Retaining plate 61prohibits vertical movement of either the mold support 17 or the mold20.

Referring back to FIG. 1 the mold supports 17 with the formed pomadeenter the extractor via channel 23 in guide plate 21. The pomade and itscontainer are grasped by jaws 43 and raised away from the mold container17. At angular position 180, the pomade and its container are invertedand then positioned over conveying units 19 which enter the extractorvia channel 32 of guide plate 31. In the meantime, the mold supportswith the empty molds are transported away from the extractor via channel34 in guide plate 31 for recycling. After the pomade and containertherefor are positioned over a conveying unit 19 they are lowered ontothe unit and the jaws 43 are opened as shown at position 190. Theinverted pomade is then transported away from the extractor via channel24 of guide plate 21 for further processing.

While the invention has been described in connection with a preferredembodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention to the particularform set forth, but, on the contrary, it is intended to cover suchalternatives, modifications and equivalents as may be included withinthe spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A method of extracting a formed pomade from a mold carried on a-firstconveyor and for positioning the extracted pomade into a conveyor uniton a second and separately moving conveyor for further processingcomprising the steps of; passing said pomade and said mold on the firstconveyor in a first direction directly onto and then away from arotating turret, passing said conveyor unit on said second conveyordirectly onto and away from the rotating turret in a second directionwhich is opposite the first direction, grasping said pomade, raisingsaid pomade away from said mold, inverting said pomade, lowering saidpomade into said conveyor unit and transporting said pomade for furtherprocessing. I

2. A method of extracting a formed pomade from a mold carried on a firstconveyor and for positioning the extracted pomade into a conveyor unitcarried on a second and separately moving conveyor for furtherprocessing comprising the steps of; passing said pomade and said mold onthe first conveyor in a first direction directly onto and then away froma rotating turret, passing said conveyor unit on said second conveyordirectly onto and away from the rotating turret in a second directionwhich is opposite the first direction, guiding said pomade and said moldinto engageable proximity of a pair of jaws, grasping said pomade byclosing said jaws, lifting said pomade away from said mold by liftingsaid jaws, restraining said mold from movement in the verticaldirection, rotating said jaws thereby inverting said pomade, loweringsaid jaws thereby lowering said pomade into said conveyor unit on saidsectating turret for enabling proper alignment of said pomade and saidmold with a pair of jaws whereby said pair of jaws are enabled to raisesaid pomade away from said mold without fracturing or breaking saidpomade.

1. A method of extracting a formed pomade from a mold carried on a firstconveyor and for positioning the extracted pomade into a conveyor uniton a second and separately moving conveyor for further processingcomprising the steps of; passing said pomade and said mold on the firstconveyor in a first direction directly onto and then away from arotating turret, passing said conveyor unit on said second conveyordirectly onto and away from the rotating turret in a second directionwhich is opposite the first direction, grasping said pomade, raisingsAid pomade away from said mold, inverting said pomade, lowering saidpomade into said conveyor unit and transporting said pomade for furtherprocessing.
 2. A method of extracting a formed pomade from a moldcarried on a first conveyor and for positioning the extracted pomadeinto a conveyor unit carried on a second and separately moving conveyorfor further processing comprising the steps of; passing said pomade andsaid mold on the first conveyor in a first direction directly onto andthen away from a rotating turret, passing said conveyor unit on saidsecond conveyor directly onto and away from the rotating turret in asecond direction which is opposite the first direction, guiding saidpomade and said mold into engageable proximity of a pair of jaws,grasping said pomade by closing said jaws, lifting said pomade away fromsaid mold by lifting said jaws, restraining said mold from movement inthe vertical direction, rotating said jaws 180* thereby inverting saidpomade, lowering said jaws thereby lowering said pomade into saidconveyor unit on said second conveyor, and opening said jaws to releasesaid pomade and conveying said pomade for further processing.
 3. Amethod as set forth in claim 1 which further comprises the steps of;sequentially positioning respective ones of said mold carrying saidpomade on the rotating turret for enabling proper alignment of saidpomade and said mold with a pair of jaws whereby said pair of jaws areenabled to raise said pomade away from said mold without fracturing orbreaking said pomade.